Gaff-joint for vessels



(No Model.)

P. E. FROSTAD. GAFF JOINT FOR VBSSELS. No. 435,926. Patented Sept. 9, 189-0.

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PETER ERIKSEN FROSTAD, OF LA CONN ER, \VASHINGTON.

GAFF-JOINT FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,926, dated. September 9, 1890.

Application filed May 8, 1890. Serial No. 351,019- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER ERIKSEN FROS- TAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Conner, in the county of Skagit and State of \Vashington, have invented a new and useful Gait-Joint, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gafi-joints, or joints for connecting the gaits to masts of vessels; and it has for its object to construct a joint of this class which shall admit of the gait being easily raised or lowered, and which shall be in the nature ofa hinge to permit the gait to swing down to avertical position alongside the mast, thus enabling the sail to be furled more quickly and conveniently than heretofore, and which shall, moreover, enable the sail to be furled in such a manner as to expose it to the least possible amount of wear.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the improved construction of the said joint, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a mast equipped with my improved gait-joint. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in both the figures of the drawings.

1 designates the mast, and 2 the gait.

3 is a ring or yoke which encircles the mast, and between the arms or jaws of which is secured a block 4, having an inner curved surface 5, adapted to bear loosely against the side of the mast, so as to form a guide that enables the ring or joint to slide freely upon the latter. To the sides of the gait are secured the straps 6, the projecting ends of which are connected by a pivotal bolt 7 to the ends of the arms 8 of the yoke that extends beyond the guide-block 4. The latter is provided near its upper end with a transverse perforation 9, from which smooth grooves 10 extend to the upper extremity of said block. The transverse perforation 9 is for the attachment of the throat-halyard, by means of which the gait may be raised or lowered in the usual manner. The peak-halyard is attached in the usual manner to the outer end of the gaff, but is not shown in the drawings hereto annexed, as it forms no part of the present invention, it being arranged in the usual and well-known manner and for its ordinary and Well-known purposes.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing dcscription, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. The guideblock 4, which forms a part of the joint, will positively prevent the ring or yoke 3 from' binding at any point upon the mast, thus enabling the gait to be easily raised or lowered in the usual manner, as the case may require. Should itbe desired to furl the sail very quickly, it maybe accomplished by letting go the peak-halvard, thus permitting the gait to drop down alongside the mast, the throathalyard being, left standing. The mainsail and gait may then be easily tied to the mast.

This invention, as will be seen from the foregoing description, is exceedingly simple in construction, and may be readily applied to vessels r gged in the usual manner. Its advantages will also be readily understood, it enabling the sail to be manipulated more quickly and elficiently than by the rigging of the ordinary kind.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim isl. The combination of the yoke, the guideblock secured between the arms of the same, the gait, the strips secured to opposite sides of the latter, and a pivotal bolt connecting said strips with the arms of the yoke, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the yoke encircling the mast, the guide-block secured between the arms of said yoke and having a curved inner surface bearing loosely against the side of the mast, the gait having strips secured to its opposite sides, a pivotal bolt connecting the projecting ends of said straps with the arms of the yoke that extend beyond the guide-block, and the throat-hal yard connected to the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aliixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER ERIKSEN FROSTAD.

Witnesses:

MADS P. TOMREN, CHRIST MADsEN. 

